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Gas tank crapped out...nasty weekend

GrabberOrange69

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So the gas tank in the ‘65 Coronet wagon is done. Saturday morning I could smell gas as I approached the side door. I open the door to find 3 gallons pooling on the floor under the Coronet. Fumes were pretty strong so I didn’t turn on any lights and opened the garage doors manually. I pushed the ‘69 out of the garage, then attempted to start it. All I got was a click click click...f@ck! Pushed it all the way to the street. Then turned my attention to the 65.

I’ll cut to the chase: pin hole leak near the bottom of the tank. I used my hand pump to empty the tank, and got 5 gallons out. What a mess. My rear tires are shot from having sat in it a whole day. Here’s the final sweep up after using cardboard to get the bulk of it.

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65 out of the garage

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So now that the car is disabled I decided now is the time to finish the engine swap I was supposed to have done years ago.

Spend Sunday unhooking stuff, draining fluids, and yanking the dead a/c and radiator.

CA42220D-0D67-4003-A456-12B64466E635.jpeg
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So the plan is get the near dead /6 904 drivetrain out, then work from the back forward. Plan is 3.55 SG, 742 case, 65 727 TF with 470” B. Short block is already built. Topping it with Source heads and a 6 pack...already have the parts. Somewhere in there I’ll have to solve the gas tank.
 
Sounds good. If you are doing all that you should replace the master cylinder with a dual reservoir style.
Hope it goes well.
 
Will the 6 cly k frame work with the big block that year?

She must have wanted your attention peeing on the floor like that! :wetting:

Keep us posted.
 
Will the 6 cly k frame work with the big block that year?

She must have wanted your attention peeing on the floor like that! :wetting:

Keep us posted.
Well she sure got it. Scarred sh*tless the fuel was going to ignight if I did something stupid.

I have a v8 K frame for it. Had it powder coated black a year ago. Been collecting parts for almost a decade.

I’ve never dealt with the trundle or the cable shift mechanization. So I got to figure that out. If it were the later stuff the motor would already be out ;)
 
As it is a wagon I would patch that leak and use a good tank sealer/liner to fix the leak and seal the outside with a good coating. Good luck with the project!
Mike
 
As it is a wagon I would patch that leak and use a good tank sealer/liner to fix the leak and seal the outside with a good coating. Good luck with the project!
Mike
This is a problem, isn’t it? I’ve looked for a NOS tank for years, no luck and I knew I was on borrowed time. I’m Leary of using those products to seal the tank. In my mind, I’m just guaranteeing to be left stranded in the future. I brazed a punctured tank once that wasn’t rusty inside and that worked great, but this one is rusty.

My thoughts revolve around 1) Finding a fuel cell that will fit up where the old tank goes. This will result in a smaller tank as it won’t be “form fitting” as the original. Like 16 gal vs the stock 21 gals. 2) Do the Lucky Costa tank swap. This involves cutting out the spare wheel well and dropping an early Mustang tank in its place, detailed here: and here,
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174511856376?

I'd seen this recently and was surprised because the wagon tanks have always been so hard to find. My understanding was the tank was the same through 65, but would want to confirm with the seller before spending that kind of money.

I can't disagree with Mike's advice, but my own experience patching gas tanks has been fair at best. The most I'd gotten out of a liner was 3 years I think, because new pin holes kept showing up. Maybe it was just my technique wasn't good enough to seal as needed.

That didn't hurt quite so bad when the tank just dropped out from under the floor, but that wagon tank is as you know tucked up inside the quarter panel. Seems like the left leaf spring has to come out to get at it.
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174511856376?

I'd seen this recently and was surprised because the wagon tanks have always been so hard to find. My understanding was the tank was the same through 65, but would want to confirm with the seller before spending that kind of money.

I can't disagree with Mike's advice, but my own experience patching gas tanks has been fair at best. The most I'd gotten out of a liner was 3 years I think, because new pin holes kept showing up. Maybe it was just my technique wasn't good enough to seal as needed.

That didn't hurt quite so bad when the tank just dropped out from under the floor, but that wagon tank is as you know tucked up inside the quarter panel. Seems like the left leaf spring has to come out to get at it.

Wow, that tank in your link did not exist 3 years ago. As for the years cutting off at ‘64, that’s strange because the cars are so similar. Lotta coin to risk on a “maybe”, but I snipped those pictures out and will compare it when I get the tank out.
 
I've had several 1st gen Mudstains back in the mid 70's and never did like the tank being the truck floor.....and for more than 1 reason.
 
I've had several 1st gen Mudstains back in the mid 70's and never did like the tank being the truck floor.....and for more than 1 reason.
I’m with ya, and there is a company now that builds a thicker metal plate to go on top of the Mustang tank to keep it from being punctured.

But I don’t want to do it to my car if I can help it as it’s rust free, and I don’t want to cut out the floor for a bastardized tank.

Besides, it I put a fuel tank there in the spare well, where would the nitrous bottle and battery go? ;)
 
I’m with ya, and there is a company now that builds a thicker metal plate to go on top of the Mustang tank to keep it from being punctured.

But I don’t want to do it to my car if I can help it as it’s rust free, and I don’t want to cut out the floor for a bastardized tank.

Besides, it I put a fuel tank there in the spare well, where would the nitrous bottle and battery go? ;)
The Mustang tank isn't that wide lol. I had a battery in the trunk in my 66 Fastback and there was plenty of room for it and a bottle on the other side....and the Mustang trunk is much smaller than the back of any wagon. I cut out the spare tire well on my 66 sedan and was planning on putting a fuel cell in that area and actually sold the spare tire well to someone that had a rusty trunk.
 
I too am wary of gas tank sealers you can buy in a can, as I've seen multiple issues. However, when restoring my 57 Retractable 30 years ago there we no aftermarket tanks so I sent my original off to Gas Tank Renu. They cut them open, fix issues, weld in new metal where necessary and coat the insides. Like I said that was close to 30 years ago and I've had no problems yet. Might be something to check out.
 
The Mustang tank isn't that wide lol. I had a battery in the trunk in my 66 Fastback and there was plenty of room for it and a bottle on the other side....and the Mustang trunk is much smaller than the back of any wagon. I cut out the spare tire well on my 66 sedan and was planning on putting a fuel cell in that area and actually sold the spare tire well to someone that had a rusty trunk.
Width isn’t the problem with adding a battery or a nitrous bottle in the wagon spare wheel well. If you were to put in a Mustang tank, depth is the problem. You can see it in Luckys video on my post above. And the B body is shallower than Luckys Fury.
 
This is an idea, but please note I'd never seen the results personally: years ago, someone told me he cut out the bottom of the tank which was corroded. The rest wasn't too bad, so he blasted the inside which was the sides and top of the tank. He then sealed those areas, leaving the bottom edges clean. He then cut,fitted, welded in a section from a similar tank to the bottom area. After grinding away, the outside was visually clean. Then, added sealer to the inside of the tank through the fuel opening to seal the bottom area. Painted the exterior of the tank, then undercoated it. Says it worked like a charm. Now, again, I never did this and I'd not seen that myself, just throwing it out there.
 
hey i dont know if t fits but I have a very clean 70 b body tank straps and filler neck from my roadrunner. i just swapped out to all new for fuel injection set up. if you can use it? boxed up already too.
 
I just had the tank from my 64 Fury wagon fixed and sealed at a local radiator shop. Nice job and was told gas will not eat the sealer. Cost me $200.00
 
Width isn’t the problem with adding a battery or a nitrous bottle in the wagon spare wheel well. If you were to put in a Mustang tank, depth is the problem. You can see it in Luckys video on my post above. And the B body is shallower than Luckys Fury.
The spare stands up on the right side, right? Been a very long while since looking at a wagon.....
 
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